Special purpose file



Nov. 30, 1948. G. L. JOHNSON 2,455,064

' SPECIAL PURPOSE FILE Filed Oct. 4, 1944 Ennentor Ge dr g LI nib/2118012 3 (Ittorneg 1 Patented Nov. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE George L. Johnson, Detroit, Mich., as'sign'or of one-fourth to Fred J. Heideman, Detroit, Mich.

Application Gctober 4, 1944., Serial No. 557,167 2 claims. (01. 29:78)

This invention relates to cutting files particularly suited to use on parts so installed as to be difii'cult of access, as for example the contact points of many types of switches.

An object of the invention is to form a file with a working end portion bent at a considerable angle to the file body and thus suited for use in restricted spaces not accessible to a straight file.

Another object is to dispose a working end portion of a file in a plane transverse to the file body, and to adapt such end portion for selective angular adjustments in such plane to suit the tool to different jobs involving difficulty of access.

A further object is to provide for the interchangeable use on a file body of a variety of working end portions each suited to a different type of work or material.

These and various other objects are attained by the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a simplified form of my improved file.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view of the handle-forming end of the file.

Fig. 4 is a view of the working end of the file.

Fig, 5 is a side view of a modification of the file adapted for adjustment.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the same.

Fig. '7 is an end view of a working member applicable to the adjustable file to replace that shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring now in greater detail to said views, and describing first the construction illustrated in Figs 1-4, the reference character I designates an elongated file whereof an end portion 2 is preferably non-serrated and has its edges rounded to serve as a handle. The opposite end portion of the file is bent transversely to the file body or approximately so, as indicated at 3. Both side faces of the portion 3 are formed with cutting serrations and the face of the file body remote from the portion 3 is also preferably serrated as best appears in Fig. 1.

Because of its bent working end portion, said file can be readily used in many places not accessible to a straight file, either or both of the errated faces of said end portion bein employed.

The adjustable file illustrated by Figs. 5-? comprises a body 4 and a working end portion 5 disposed transversely to such body. To adapt said body to adjustably and detachably carry the end portion 5, an end portion of the body is bent, as indicated at 6 transversely to the body or ap- I ferent metals or other materials.

proximately so, and ,is return-bent upon the portion 6, as indicated at 1. The portion '5 ex tends preferably somewhat beyond the body d and is then return-bent on itself a short distance as indicated at 8. A bolt 9 passes through the portions 6 and I and together with a nut l0 serves to clamp the member 5 to said portions, and said member has an arcuate toothed end H which meshes with the similar free end of the body portion 8, the centers of the arcs being at the bolt aXis and rotation of the member 5 about the bolt being prevented by the intermeshed teeth. To permit of readily adjusting the member 5 about the bolt axis, when desired, said member has a slot l2 extending from its bolt-receiving opening to the end ll, said slot being narrower than said opening and suited to accommodate the bolt shank. Said shank, however, has an enlargement i3 close to its head M, to fit the opening of the member 5 and normally prevent any escape of said member.

When it is desired to angularly adjust the member 5, as for example to the dash line position shown in Fig. 6, the nut Ill is loosened to an extent permitting withdrawal of the enlargement l3 from said member. The latter may then be shifted slightly lengthwise to disengage its toothed edge H from that on the file body, and may be swung to the desired angle. The toothed edges are then again interengaged and the bolt tightened. It is obvious that the member 5 may be removed completely, if desired, when the bolt has been loosened and shifted as described, and another member having different characteristics may be substituted. Thus the member to (Fig. '7) dilfers considerably in width from the member 5. The tool may comprise any desired number of different working members, and the difference may involve width, thickness, length, shape, or the particular type of cutting serrations. Thus the described file may be suited to a great variety of difierent jobs and to use on a variety of dif The provision for angular adjustment of the members 5 or 5a permits of the tool being accurately suited to differently restricted places.

In present practice, it is necessary in filing the points of numerous types of boxes switches to largely disassemble their mechanisms to permit use of ordinary files. The described file in either of its illustrated forms eliminates necessity for such disassembly and subsequent reassembly and will thus effect a valuable saving of time and labor.

What I claim is:

1. A file comprising an elongated body having a bent end portion, a working member having cutting serrations and having an end portion formed with an opening and with a slot more narrow than said opening extending to the end of said portion, a fastening element securing the working member to the bent end portion of said body and comprising a shank adapted to pass through said slot, said shank havin an enlargement to fit said opening of the workin member, and means on the working member and body for normally restraining the working member from pivotal movement on said fastening element, said element being adjustable lengthwise to disengage said enlargement from said opening and the working member then being releasable from said restraining means by shifting said member lengthwise to accommodate said fastening element in said slot.

2. A file comprising an elongated handle-forming bar having an end portion bent to one side of said bar and return-bent to extend to the opposite side of the bar, a working member substantially transverse to said bar and formed with cutting serrations, means pivoting said work member on said end portion to swing about an axis substantially parallel to and at one side of said bar, and means on said end portion at the other side of the bar for rigidly interlocking the working member with said end portion in selective angular positions with respect to said axis. GEORGE L. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 51,519 Reed Dec. 12, 1865 371,451 Dah'ms Oct. 11, 1887 447,904 Reilley Mar. 10, 1891 633,571 Cracker Sept, 26, 1899 741,944 Taylor Oct. 20, 1903 1,422,773 McCarthy July 11, 1922 2,127,176 Kroecker Aug. 16, 1938 

